The United States has rejected what it calls a “global carbon tax” proposed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), warning that nations supporting the plan could face sanctions, visa restrictions, and commercial penalties.
In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Energy Doug Wright, and Secretary of Transportation John Duffy said President Donald Trump has made it clear the U.S will not accept any international environmental measure that “unduly or unfairly burdens the United States or harms the interests of the American people.”
The IMO is set to vote next week on adopting a “Net-Zero Framework” (NZF) – a policy to cut global carbon dioxide emissions from international shipping. If approved, it would be the first time a UN agency imposes a global carbon levy.
“The Administration unequivocally rejects this proposal before the IMO and will not tolerate any action that increases costs for our citizens, energy providers, shipping companies and their customers, or tourists,” the statement said.
“The economic impacts from this measure could be disastrous, with some estimates forecasting global shipping costs increasing as much as 10 percent or more.”
The three secretaries urged other nations to oppose the NZF during the upcoming IMO meeting, warning that the measure would create “an unsanctioned global tax regime” affecting all member states.
“The United States is considering the following actions against nations that support this global carbon tax on American consumers,” the statement continued, listing potential retaliatory steps including:
Investigations and regulations to counter “anti-competitive practices” from countries backing the NZF, including possible port bans on their vessels.
– Visa restrictions and higher fees for maritime crew members from those nations.
– Commercial penalties tied to U.S government contracts, LNG infrastructure, and shipbuilding.
– Additional port fees for ships flagged or operated by NZF-supporting countries.
– Sanctions on officials “sponsoring activist-driven climate policies that would burden American consumers.”
“The United States will be moving to levy these remedies against nations that sponsor this European-led neocolonial export of global climate regulations,” the statement said.
“We will fight hard to protect our economic interests by imposing costs on countries if they support the NZF. Our fellow IMO members should be on notice.”
The Trump administration’s firm stance sets the stage for a major international showdown at the IMO, as global powers debate how to balance climate action with economic sovereignty.
